Electrical connector assembly and retaining device thereof

Abstract

An retaining device of an electrical connector assembly for use with a heat dissipating device, includes a first retainer, a fixing lever, and a second retainer. The fixing lever has one end pivotally mounted to the first retainer and another end capable of locked by the first retainer. The second retainer is integral formed with an elastic plate. The first retainer and the second retainer are two separated members, and the fixing lever and the elastic plate are used for pressing two opposite ends of the heat dissipating device.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A retaining device of an electrical connector assembly for use with a heat dissipating device, comprising:
 a first retainer; 
 a fixing lever having one end pivotally mounted to the first retainer and another end capable of being locked by the first retainer; 
 a second retainer integrally formed with an elastic plate; and wherein 
 the first retainer and the second retainer are two separated members, the fixing lever and the elastic plate are used for pressing two opposite ends of the heat dissipating device. 
 
     
     
       2. The retaining device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the elastic plate extends toward the first retainer and inclined downwardly from a root to a free end to provide a reciprocal force. 
     
     
       3. The retaining device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first retainer has a shaft-supporting on one end to receive the fixing lever and a hook on another end to lock the fixing lever. 
     
     
       4. The retaining device as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the shaft-supporting includes a main body extending upwardly in a vertical direction, a bent portion extending inwardly from a top of the main body, and a stopper portion extending from a side of the main body. 
     
     
       5. The retaining device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the first retainer has a first mounting portion and the second retainer has a second mounting portion, and wherein the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion both define top plates with through holes, bottom plates with apertures, and vertical plates connecting the top plates and the bottom plates. 
     
     
       6. The retaining device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the apertures are non-closed holes. 
     
     
       7. The retaining device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the shaft-supporting and the hook are designed on two opposite ends of the top plates of the first mounting portions. 
     
     
       8. The retaining device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the first retainer includes two first mounting portions and a first connecting portion connecting the two top plates and the two vertical plates; and the second retainer includes two second mounting portions and a second connecting portion connecting the two vertical plates. 
     
     
       9. The retaining device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the elastic plate is designed at a middle of the second connecting portion of the second retainer. 
     
     
       10. The retaining device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first retainer and the second retainer are both made of sheet metal stamping. 
     
     
       11. An electrical connector assembly for use with a heat dissipating device, comprising:
 an electrical connector, a heat dissipating device mounted upon the electrical connector; 
 a first retainer; 
 a fixing lever having one end pivotally mounted to the first retainer and another end capable of being locked by the first retainer; 
 a second retainer integrally formed with an elastic plate; and wherein 
 the first retainer and the second retainer are two separated members, the fixing lever and the elastic plate are used for pressing two opposite ends of the heat dissipating device. 
 
     
     
       12. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the first retainer has a shaft-supporting on one end to receive the fixing lever and a hook on another end to lock the fixing lever, the shaft-supporting includes a main body extending upwardly in a vertical direction, a bent portion extending inwardly from a top of the main body, and a stopper portion extending from a side of the main body. 
     
     
       13. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the elastic plate extends toward the first retainer and inclined downwardly from a root to a free end to provide a reciprocal force. 
     
     
       14. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the first retainer includes two first mounting portions and a first connecting portion connecting the two top plates and the two vertical plates; and the second retainer includes two second mounting portions and a second connecting portion connecting the two vertical plates. 
     
     
       15. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the top plates of the first mounting portions and the second mounting portions are higher than the highest point of the electrical connector. 
     
     
       16. An electrical connector assembly for use with a heat sink defining first and second retention areas at two opposite ends, comprising:
 an electrical connector, for holding an electronic package thereon, defining a rectangular configuration in a top view with thereof longitudinal and transverse directions perpendicular to each other; 
 a heat sink retainer including first and second clips disposed by two opposite longitudinal ends of the connector, respectively, in said longitudinal direction, each of said first and second clips essentially extending in said transverse direction, 
 the first clip defining a stationary elastic plate for holding first retention area of the heat sink, the second clip defining a moveable fixing lever for holding the second retention area of the heat sink; wherein 
 said stationary elastic plate defines a pivotal region thereunder for allowing the first retention area to be associated therewith in a pivotal manner during assembling the heat sink to the heat sink retainer, and the moveable fixing lever may be moved initially to an unlocking position for allowing the second retention area to be downwardly moved toward around the second clip, and sequentially to a locking position to downwardly press the second retention area. 
 
     
     
       17. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said moveable fixing lever is moveable in a rotational manner. 
     
     
       18. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the moveable fixing lever is rotated about an axis located at one end of the second clip and extending in a longitudinal direction. 
     
     
       19. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein each of said first and second clips defines a U-shaped configuration in a side view to provide resiliency thereof in a vertical direction perpendicular to both said longitudinal direction and said transverse direction. 
     
     
       20. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein each of said first and second clips includes a pair of screws at two opposite ends in said transverse direction for securing the corresponding clip with regard to the connector.